Nationhood, the GATT ideal and a workable international trading system

Abstract

The goals of multilateral trade negotiations under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (the GATT) have been developed in the context of the orthodox theory of commercial policy. An analysis is offered that shows why the GATT ideal may not be a flexible medium-term goal under existing conditions. Although the argument advanced has relevance to multilateral trade negotiations generally, the specifics of the Uruguay Round are not explored. JEL Codes: F02, F40

Keywords

• International trade and balance of payments
• GATT